Hair treating apparatus



Sept. 4, 1951 A. B. COLON HAIR TREATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 16, 1949lNVE/VTOR AMA00 B. COLON w-wgflffi 9 A T TOR/V575 Patented Sept. 4, 1951I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR TREATING APPARATUS Amado B. Colon,Arecibo, Puerto Rico Application November 16, 1949, Serial No. 127,652

Claims.

invention consists in new and useful improvements .in apparatus ,fortreating the hair and scalp and has as an object, to provide a device ofthis nature which is readily adaptable for various uses such as washing,rinsing, dyeing, oiling and [massaging the hair and scalp of the humanhead.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combination hair washinghood and vibrating unit which is capable of completing its operationwhile the subject remains seated at one location, without the necessityof repeatedly moving from place to place during the course of washingand rinsing the hair.

I am familiar with previous efforts to this same general end, but so faras I am aware, such prior efforts have proven unsatisfactory for thereason that they have all required certain manual Operations. for one ormore of the functions of washing, massaging and rinsing. It is thereforea further object of my invention to provide a. combination apparatuswhich, when properly adjusted on the wearers head will automaticallyapply a treating solution and regulated quantities of water and thenautomatically effect the required vibratory motion to thoroughly wash,dye or oil the hair and to massage the scalp and thereafter rinse thehair without requiring removal of the hood.

With the aboveand other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features hereinset forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designatesimilar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing my improved hood in placeon the head of a wearer and operatively connected for use;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the hood shown .in Figure 1;and

Figure .3 .is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing a section of theunderside of the hood lining.

In the drawings, the hood is generally designated by the numeral 4 andis preferably composed of rubber or other suitable waterproof materialhaving sufficient rigidity to retain sub-- stantially its normal moldedshape, but having the requisite flexibility and resilience to render itadaptable to various head sizes. This hood consists of an outer wall 5which conforms generally in shape to that of the human skull, the

bounding edges of the hood opening, being shapedto follow substantiallythe hair line-of the human head from front to back, as will be apparentfrom Figure l. Spaced inwardly from the outer wall 5 and preferablyintegral therewith, is a lining 6 which follows the same general contouras the outer wall 5, the space between the lining and the outer wall,forming a liquid distribution chamber 7 which surrounds the wearersscalp. At predetermined points suitably distributed throughout the areabetween the lining and outer wall, I provide a series of spacers 8 whichmay be formed of hard rubber or metal and which are adapted to maintaina substantially fixed relationship between the lining and the outer wallfor the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The undersurface of the lining 6 is provided with a series of inwardlydirected massaging fingers 8, adapted to engage the hair and scalp ofthe wearer and suitably spaced throughout the area of the lining as willbe seen from Fig ure 2. Alternately arranged between these mas.- sagingfingers 9, are a series of nipples l0 having perforations incommunication with the .distributing chamber 1, whereby the .liquid insaid chamber is evenly distributed over the head of the wearer. Themassaging fingers 9 and the nipples to may be formed integral with thelining 6 and .of the same material or if desired, they maybe separatelyattached and composed. of a different material having the requiredcharacteristics.

The bounding edges of the hood opening are preferably formed, with atendency toward restriction so as normally to exert a sufficient inwardpressure along the hair line to facilitate retention of the hood inplace on the wearers, head. Adjacent said bounding edges and lyingbetween the same and the wearers head, 1 provide a resilient waterproofgasket H which may be formed integral with the hood or separatelyattached thereto by any preferred means such as cementing. Thus when thehood is applied, the area surrounding the skull is completely, sealedagainst the exterior so as to prevent the leakage of fluid down over theface and shoulders. of the wearer.

The upper portion of the hood is provided with two liquid inlets l2 andI3, extending through the outer Wall 5 into the liquid distributionchamber 1, as will be seen in Figure 2. Inlet. I2 is provided with aconduit l4 connected to a suitable source of water supply l5, while theinlet I3 is connected through conduit It to a receptacle II which maycontain soap solution, dye or other 3 treating" solutions; The conduitsl4 and I 6 are also equipped with suitable valves l8 and 19respectively, for regulating the fiow of the respective liquids into thechamber 1, as hereinafter set forth.

At the lowest point in the hood 4, I provide an outlet or drainageopening and discharge conduit 20 which leads from the interior of thelining 6, whereby the liquid collected over the head within the liningmay be discharged to a suitable point of drainage, the conduit 2|] beingprovided with a control valve 2|. It will be noted from Figure 1, thatthe portion of the hair line immediately in front of the ears of thewearer is lower than the tops of the ears and, inasmuch as the boundingedge of the hood opening follows the contour of the hair line, a lowpoint or pocket is formed within the lining 6. In order to prevent thecollection of liquid in the lining at this low point, I preferablyprovide aby-pass drain tube 35 which connects the low point justdescribed, with the lower extremity of the internal area of the lining6, behind the wearers ears, thus draining all liquids to one commondischarge point.

In Figure l, I have shown more or less diagrammatically, a vibratingunit 22 which may be of any suitable type, operated by an electric motorwhich causes a reciprocating motion to be imparted to a connecting rod23, the latter being operatively secured to a U-shaped yoke 24. The yoke24 spans the hood 4 and is connected on either side thereof to a rigidmetal band 25 which surrounds the outer wall of the hood and is fixedthereto by any suitable means. Preferably, the band 25 is provided withlaterally projecting trunnions 26 which pivotally engage bearing members21, carried at the free ends of the U-shaped yoke 24.

Thus when the vibrating unit 22 is set into operation, the connectingrod 23 reciprocates horizontally and in turn causes a correspondingreciprocation or vibration of the outer wall of the hood. This vibrationis transmitted from the outer wall to the lining 6 by means of thespacers 8, the extent of the movement imparted thereto,

being sufficient to cause the required massaging action of the fingers 9on the hair and scalp, yet insufficient to cause discomfort to the headof the wearer. Preferably, the length of stroke of the vibratingconnecting rod 23, is from to /1, of an inch and the actual movement ofthe hood, due to the nature of the material used in both the hood andthe gasket l l, is slightly less, which avoids undue strain on thewearers head.

Any suitable arrangement may be employed for supporting the vibratingunit and the liquid containers. In Figure l, I have shown onearrangement consisting of a vertical standard 28 having a platform 23for supporting the vibrating unit 22, an adjusting screw 30 beingprovided for regulating the height of the unit 22. At the top of thisstandard a second platform 3| supports the solution container ll, andthe water supply I5 is strapped to the standard 28 as at 32.

As an alternative method of connecting the vibrating unit, I may emplo asemi-circular metal band 33 which is secured across the upper portion ofthe hood as shown in Figure l, and has fixed thereto a rear-wardlyprojecting lug 34 which may be fastened directly to the connecting rod23 without the necessity of the U-shaped yoke 24. Regardless of theconnecting member, it may be desirable to employ the strip 33 as areinforcing means for the outer wall 5 and to add 4 strength at thepoints where the liquid inlet connections are installed.

The operation of my improved apparatus assuming that the wearers hair isto be washed, is as follows:

The hood is applied to the wearer head with the gasket II tightly inplace and the discharge valve 2| closed. Soap solution from thereceptacle I1 is admitted by gravity, to the chamber 1 through conduit I6, by regulating the control valve [9, and regulated quantities of waterare admitted through the conduit M by manipulation of the control valveI8. The electric motor for operating the vibrating unit 22 is turned onand. through the connecting rod 23, yoke 24 and encircling band 25, theouter wall of the hood is caused to vibrate horizontally so that themassaging fingers 9 thoroughly distribute the soap solution throughoutthe hair and cause suflicient massaging action to work up the requiredlather. After the period of washing, the valve l9 on'the soap solutionreceptacle is closed and the discharge valve 2| in the bottom of thehood is opened. By regulating the water supply valve l8, clear water isadmitted to the chamber 1 and is thoroughly distributed through theseries of nipples [0, over the head and hair of the wearer and isdrained through the discharge conduit 20 to a suitable point ofdrainage, not shown.

When it is desired to dye or oil the hair, the receptacle I! is replacedwith a dye or oil receptacle, the fluid being admitted to the chamber 7,through the conduit I6, and the vibrating unit set into operation tocause a thorough distribution of dye or oil throughout the hair.

From the foregoing, it is believed that my in vention may be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art without further description, itbeing borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details ofstructure, without departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Hair massaging and treating apparatus, comprising in combination ahood of semi-rigid waterproof material adapted to enclose the hair andcranium of awearer, means for sealing the bounding edges of said hoodadjacent the hair line of the wearer, a lining in said hood spacedinwardly to form a liquid distributing chamber, means maintaining saidspacing, at least-one fluid inlet opening to said chamber, a series ofdis charge openings in said lining, a series of inwardly directedmassaging fingers interposed between said discharge openings, a drainopening leading from the interior-of said lining, and a vibrating unitoperatively connected to said hood for bodily vibrating the latter tocause a massaging action by said fingers.

2. Hair massaging and treating apparatus including a semi-rigid hoodformed of Waterproof material which will retain substantially its'normal shape but having sufficient resilience to render it adaptable tovarious head sizes, said hood having a lining of similar material spacedinwardly from its outer wall to form a fluid distributing chamberconforming substantially to the contour of the hood, spacers securedbetween said lining and outer Wall and suitably distributed to maintaina substantially fixed relationship of the lining with respect to theouter wall of the hood, a series of inwardly directed fingers integralwith the concave underside of said lining for engaging the hair andscalp, a series of perforations in said lining for distributingfiuidfrom said chamber.

resilient means bounding the edges of the hood opening for sealing thelatter adjacent the hair line of the wearer, a fluid inlet in the outerwall of said hood communicating with said chamber, a fluid drain outletfrom the interior of said lining, means for controlling said inlet andoutlet, a vibrating mechanism, and means connecting said mechanism tosaid hood for bodily vibrating the latter.

3. Hair massaging and treating apparatus including a semi-rigid hoodformed of waterproof material which will retain substantially its normalshape but having sufficient resilience to render it adaptable to varioushead sizes, said hood having a lining of similar material spacedinwardly from its outer wall to form a fluid distributing chamberconforming substantially to the contour of the hood, spacers securedbetween said lining and outer wall and suitably distributed to maintaina substantially fixed relationship of the lining with respect to theouter wall of the hood, a series of inwardly directed fingers integralwith the concave underside of said lining for engaging the hair andscalp, a series of perforations in said lining for distributing fluidfrom said chamber, resilient means bounding the edges of the hoodopening for sealing the latter adjacent the hair line of the wearer, afluid inlet in the outer wall of said hood communicating with saidchamber, a fluid drain outlet from the interior of said lining, meansfor controlling said inlet and outlet, a rigid band secured to the outerwall of said hood, a vibrating unit, and means operatively connectingsaid vibrating unit to said rigid band for bodily vibrating said hoodand lining.

4. Hair massaging and treating apparatus including a semi-rigid hoodformed of waterproof material which will retain substantially its normalshape but having sufficient resilience to render it adaptable to varioushead sizes, said hood having a lining of similar material spacedinwardly from its outer wall to form a fluid distributing chamberconforming substantially to the contour of the hood, spacers securedbetween said lining and outer wall and suitably distributed to maintaina substantially fixed relationship of the lining with respect to theouter wall of the hood, a series of inwardly directed fingers integralwith the concave underside of said lining for engaging the hair andscalp, a series of perforations in said lining for distributing fluidfrom said chamber, resilient means bounding the edges of the hoodopening and conforming substantially to the contour of the wearers hairline for sealing the latter adjacent the hair line of a wearer, aby-pass drainage tube connecting the dip in said lining forward of theears of the wearer to the low point of the lining behind the wearersears, a source of hair treating solution, means connecting the latter tosaid chamber, a source of water, means connecting said source to saidchamber, a fluid drain outlet from the interior of said lining, meansfor controlling the flow of said treating solution and water to saidhood, means controlling the drainage of fluid from said hood, a separatevibrating mechanism and means operatively connecting the latter to saidhood for bodily vibrating the latter.

5. In hair massaging and treating apparatus, including a semi-rigid hoodformed of waterproof material which will retain substantially its normalshape but having sufficient resilience to render it adaptable to varioushead sizes, a lining in said hood of similar material spaced inwardlyfrom the outer wall of the hood to form a fluid distributing chamberconforming substantially to the contour of the hood, a series ofinwardly directed fingers integral with the concave underside of saidlining for engaging the hair and scalp, a series of perforations in saidlining for distributing fluid from said chamber, resilient meansbounding the edges of the hood opening and conforming substantially tothe contour of the wearers hair line, and a by-pass drainage tubeconnecting the dip in said lining forward of the ears of the wearer tothe low point of the lining behind the wearers ears.

AMADO B. COLON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 998,804 Salisbury July 25, 19112,369,881 Berns Feb. 20, 1945

